The View From Row Z: Looking at the big picture

REVOLUTIONS don’t work very well over here.

The only time we managed it properly was in 1648, when the sudden departure of King Charles’s head from his body resulted in a decade of republican government.

This is a fundamentally conservative (with a small ‘c’) nation that likes to feel the rug firmly under its feet.

Take to the streets with burning torches in protest at social injustice? Most folk would rather sit down with a cup of tea in front of ‘Cash in the Attic’.

The Rugby Football League is itself normally a very English, if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it institution. Witness the lack of willing to dump Hull FC out of the Challenge Cup earlier this season for fielding an ineligible player in not one, but two earlier rounds. No expulsion — it would cause too much fuss.

Similarly, the salary cap breaches committed by all the top clubs in recent seasons. Again, a rule which forms the basis of the entire competition is flagrantly breached, resulting in nothing more than a few slapped wrists.

Along with many a commuter, though, the RFL is now keen to embrace a brave new future by moving its sport away from the limits of the M62 ‘corridor’.

The introduction of the franchise system — the most fundamental change in a major sport in this country since the launch of football’s Premier League in 1992 — has been designed with the desire to improve the international game clearly in mind.

The elevation of Catalans Dragons to Super League two-and-a-half years ago has already begun to benefit the France squad as the majority of its men take part in top-class competition week-in, week-out.

Now, with the break-up of Great Britain into its constituent parts, the hope is that a new generation of talent from Wales — followed in future years by Ireland and Scotland — can be enticed to the sport.

The three-year Super League licence awarded to Celtic Crusaders of Bridgend is a calculated gamble on the RFL’s behalf.

Should Celtic somehow manage to entice the sort of crowds they haven’t had thus far to their shabby Brewery Field ground, league may just stick.

Should it fail, then at least the Crusaders were given the chance to succeed — within a realistic timescale and without the threat of its long-term plans being ruined by immediate demotion a year later.

Salford’s place is also predicated on events that haven’t yet happened. Namely, their new stadium actually being built, and the consequent attracting of supporters from Manchester.

Again, the RFL has handed Salford the chance to prove itself. The threat of relegation come the end of the 2011 season should be powerful enough to give not only the Reds and Crusaders, but also Wakefield and Castleford, plus others, a kick up the backside.

Clearly, the application process for licences was flawed in that it was woolly enough to allow the RFL to justify sticking with the teams it felt should be included in a 14-team Super League right from the start. Plenty of heartland clubs will be feeling a little underwhelmed by what may appear now to be a closed shop.

But perhaps it is worth giving the big picture a chance to come into focus before we start demanding RFL chief Richard Lewis’s bonce on a platter. Three years isn’t that long to wait.